Thousands of sea lovers came to Kaş for the race held at the end of the International Lycian Kaş Culture and Art Festival, as every year, with the slogan of “Peace and Friendship” for the 17th time this year. Swimmers from all over the world swim in the deep blue sea of the Mediterranean. In the excitement of the race organized by Rossist Event, which brings international athletes together in Turkey, 193 athletes swam to Kaş from Megisti/Meis Island, the closest island of neighboring Greece to Turkey, to fight against the current. Gökhan Kotan, a special athlete with Down syndrome, broke new ground by swimming the 7-kilometer track for the first time in the world. Gökhan Kotan, accompanied by Emre Deliveli, achieved a time of 3 hours 44 minutes and 30 seconds.
GÖKHAN KOTAN: EVERYONE FALL AND BE CHAMPION
In his statement, Gökhan Kotan called on individuals with down syndrome and said, “Let everyone swim and become champions.”
Adding to his words that he is 33 years old, Gökhan Kotan noted that he has been involved in swimming since 2012 and stated that the longest course he has raced so far is 6.5 K. Expressing that he always succeeded in breaking new ground, Kotan said that he wrote a book about his own life. Kotan also reminded that he was the first athlete to swim 5K with down syndrome. Gökhan Kotan stated that he will participate in the open water swimming race in Italy and that he wants to achieve a degree in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Gökhan, whose number 006 was written on his arm because he was from Ankara, thanked Polat Dede, the director of the race, for this. Gökhan Kotan, who completed the track and went ashore, first hugged his mother and then Polat Dede, giving them great joy and pride.
FEDERATION PRESIDENT CALLED BY PHONE
After the race, Gökhan Kotan made a phone call with the President of the Turkish Special Athletes Sports Federation, Birol Aydın, and stated that he wanted to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Kotan also added that he expects support in races abroad.
EMRE DELİVELİ: STARTED TO SWIM 5K AFTER MEETING ME
Emre Deliveli, who voluntarily and devotedly accompanied Gökhan Kotan, stated that he swam long distances and reminded that he swam in the Bosphorus, twice between Meis and Kaş and in the English Channel in 2019. Develi said, “We swam together with Gökhan Kotan in Marmaris and Alanya before. We met in Marmaris, then they were looking for someone to accompany him. I also volunteered and we’ve been swimming together in races since that day. He normally swam 1.5K, but after meeting me, he was 5K. He started swimming. We swim side by side, in case he needs anything, but Gökhan is a very hardy athlete, he has never asked for water until now,” he said.